‘Transparent’ Recap: Season 1, Episode 9

Jill Soloway’s breathtakingly beautiful new series, Transparent, is about to become Amazon‘s first big hit. The show’s pilot received rave reviews when it debuted last spring, and today you can stream the entire first season on Amazon Prime Instant Video. Get ready to meet and fall in love with the Pfefferman clan — a family that will either be torn apart or brought back to together by the revelation that their father is transgender.

After we learned about the secrets of the Pfeffermans’ past in the last episode, we now jump back to the present day. Shelly’s (Judith Light) husband, Ed, is dying, and family secrets come to light.

What’s The Deal With Maura & Shelly?

After the kids bailed on Trans Got Talent, Maura (Jeffrey Tambor) sought solace by going to Shelly’s. We discover in this episode that the two divorced Pfeffermans have developed a friendship where they lean on each other. Maura convinces Shelly that it is time to let Ed go. When the kids come and confront her about this, Shelly snaps that Maura is the only one who has been there for her.

Interestingly, this episode also makes a point to flashback to 1994. Maura reveals herself to Shelly and the couple starts to fall apart.

How’s Sarah (Amy Landecker) Doing?

She’s actually reconsidering her decision to leave Len (Rob Huebel). Tammy’s (Melora Hardin) controlling nature is leaving Sarah feeling stifled and when she goes to pick up the kids, she and Len joke about his outburst at Shabbat and her recent pot-smoking habit. The two get high together and it’s obvious that they might still have feelings for each other. At the very least, Sarah is jealous that Len is dating his secretary. When she complains about it to Tammy, Tammy only says she understands because people have always been jealous of her.

Is Josh (Jay Duplass) Still Dating Rabbi Raquel (Kathryn Hahn)?

Josh returns to the Temple to woo Raquel. However, his plans are dashed when she discovers that Josh has taken Bianca under his wing since Tammy kicked her out. Josh tries to explain that he’s just letting Bianca crash, but the two have an argument, which leads to sex, which leads to Josh declaring to his family later that he’s in love with Raquel. Everyone is happy but Ali (Gaby Hoffmann).

Why Is Ali So Pissed Off At Josh?

Ali’s friend Syd (Carrie Brownstein) delivers a double whammy in this episode. She not only reveals that she slept with Josh, but that she has been in love with Ali since eighth grade. This puts Ali in a tailspin, which is only exacerbated by the fact that Ali can’t understand why her family wants to help Ed die.

Do They Kill Ed?

At the end of the episode, Shelly, Maura, Josh, and Sarah are gathered around the kitchen table blithely planning Ed’s death and shiva. We then see a disoriented Ed sneak out of the house and walk to the pond. The episode ends with a sad coda: we flashback to a verbose Ed trying to charm the younger Pfefferman kids with a bawdy joke. Shelly is in his thrall and Ali seems to like him. The episode ends with Ed declaring, “I’m here to make you happy.”